Sunday Times | “Palmer’s brilliant exposition has reconciled, drawn together the multifarious strands of the world’s most fascinating music in a way never before attempted so comprehensively ... with magisterial clarity. It’s simply the best thing yet on the subject and long overdue.
| |
| Variety | “Visually rich as mass entertainment ... its appeal should transcend most frontiers ... loaded with musical personalities.”
| |
| New York Library Journal | “A brilliantly authoritative historical study.”
| |
| The Economist | “The descriptive passages are of the highest quality ... outstandingly good”
| |
| American Cosmpolitan | “The best is here in a splendidly llustrated book that’s bound to please all but the irredeemably tone-deaf.”
| |
| Evening Standard London | “Scholarly ... one of the most comprehensive volumes to appear on pop.., the shows will attract a massive audience.”
| |
| Times Educational Supplement London | “Some instalments have triumphed indeed ... of outstanding quality.
| |
| Melody Maker | “It presents information that will be a revelation to many ... Palmer’s sense of cinematic outrage either impresses or infuriates, but then he wants to engender a sense of fury about an often shameful story.”
| |
| BBC Kaleidoscope | “The most exciting series on Independent Television since ‘The World at War’.”
| |
| Nottingham Evening Post | “One of the all—time great series.”
| |
| Kent Evening Post | “A mass of marvellous music.”
| |
| Sunday Telegraph London | “A dazzling parade of legendary performers ... sensational.”
| |
| Northern Echo | “Supremely enjoyable.”
| |
| Peterborough Evening Telegraph | “Helpings of rich entertainment.”
| |
| Daily Express London | “Very serious and captivating; fascinating film ... rare pictures. Incredible energy. All augured well, even if you have never bought a pop record in your life.”
| |
| Bristol Evening Post | “Really engrossing.”
| |
| Manchester Evening News | “A sure winner.”
| |
| Screen International | “Brilliant.”
| |
| The Listener | “A comprehensive, blunt and indeed notably honest book ... something of a triumph. The first well—planned, thoroughly opinionated, non—nutty history of the people’s music in the people’s century, infuriating, stimulating, long overdue, and hugely welcome.”
| |
| Publishers' Weekly USA | “An informed and entertaining (book) that looks into topside and flipside of every kind of popular music ... almost definitive.. an attractive buy.”
| |
| Houston Chronicle | “A splendid job ... great fun, a lively account of American mass music.”
| |
| Irish Times | “Open the book almost anywhere and one can find a useful bit of wisdom.”
| |
| Daily Mirror London | “This excellent history of popular music ... lavish, catchily written, lucid.”
| |
| San Franciso Examiner | “This intelligent sensitive survey carried off with an educated elan that reveals both considerable knowledge and
| |
| Massachusetts News-Tribune | “A whale of a book (with) information galore.”
| |
| Rock Star USA | “Exhaustively researched it is compulsive reading ... full of sheer gems.”
| |
| Grimsby Evening Telegraph | “Bright,well—illustrated, and fascinating; and will be welcomed by all students of the pop music form.”
| |
| Northampton Chronicle & Echo | “A massive tome ... lucid, thoroughly entertaining and timely.”
| |
| The Scotsman Edinburgh | “Abrasive and brimful of illustrations.”
| |
| St. Louis Post Dispatch | “Well written and filled with illustrations.”
| |
The Times | “Marvellous ... it will educate and entertain.”
| |
Daily Mail | “A firework display... it has winner stamped all over it. Stunning. Unique.”
| |
Glasgow Daily Record | “The biggest musical undertaking ever attempted by TV.”
| |
Chicago Daily News | “Intelligent, sensitive survey.”
| |
Daily Progress | “By far the most complete and lavish treatment in print ... popular, witty and learned. The pictures are great.”
| |
Sounds | “Fascinating and infuriating.”
| |
San Diego Union | “Comprehensive, readable and revealing; overflows with fascinating anecdotes ... masterly.”
| |
London Evening News | “A marvellous film series ... it will attract a massive audience.”
| |
The Guardian | “Provocative and entertaining ... a lively piece of art.”
| |